Thank you to Federal Way Public Schools’ staff member Laveda Nichols who organized and ran the Coats for Kids Fundraiser for over 14 years!

Laveda initiated an annual “garage sale” where staff donate items, and all proceeds go towards buying coats to keep our scholars warm.

The sale usually brings in about $1,200 to $1,400 each year. However, this year was an all-time record of $2,000!

Laveda purchases the coats, then delivers them to schools for students in need.

Laveda, we appreciate your support to keep our scholars warm and ready to learn! This helps them thrive and be confident, responsible individuals, part of our strategic plan Goal 2 efforts.

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Thank you to talented team of FWPS staff who keep our busses running safely and efficiently!

The Washington State Patrol completed their annual inspection of the Federal Way Public Schools’ buses, and our district has been recognized for outstanding results!

This is a great accomplishment and we want to recognize the following team members:

• Zail DeBie
• Duane Jeffries
• Roy Grigg
• Todd Fitch
• Eldon Reidt
• Joe Pagel
• Charles McLemore
• Doug Shore
• Barb Jeffries

We would also like to recognize the following administrators:

• Michelle Turner, Executive Director of Transportation
• Tom Nutt, Shop Manager

This supports our district strategic plan that highlights the importance of a committed and talented staff who use professional practices that helps keep our scholars safe while riding the bus.

Keep up the great work!

Thank you to the Federal Way Lions Club  for awarding $9,000 in scholarships to 10 Federal Way Public Schools graduates!

Since its inception over 50 years ago, the Federal Way Lions Club has awarded over $142,000 in scholarships to Federal Way students. The Lions Club presented 10 scholarships to our 2020-21 seniors totaling $9,000 to help fund college expenses including books and class fees.

We would like to recognize Lions Club president Bill Ellis
and other members from the Club.

We appreciate the Lion’s commitment to our scholars! Efforts like these support our strategic plan Goal 5: persistence to graduation.

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Thank you to the Rotary Club of Federal Way for awarding $23,000 in scholarships to 23 Federal Way Public Schools graduates!

We are grateful for the Rotary Club of Federal Way’s continued support of our scholars’ post-secondary pursuits. Each year, Rotary provides scholarships for our Federal Way Public Schools scholars. This year, they donated $23,000 in scholarships to 23 students.

We would like to recognize the following members: Diane Lyons, Jodi Robinson-Cody, Dr. Robert McKenzie, Cindy Ducich  and other members from the Rotary Club.

Schools can’t do it alone, and we appreciate the Rotary’s commitment to our scholars! Efforts like these support our strategic plan Goal 5: persistence to graduation.

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115 graduates received the 2021Seal of Biliteracy!

The Seal of Biliteracy recognizes high school graduates who have demonstrated high levels of proficiency (reading, writing, and speaking) in one or more languages in addition to high levels of proficiency in English. The Seal of Biliteracy is important because it exemplifies the dedicated work and valuable skills they will bring into their career and college experiences.

Below are the 115 graduates from our Class of 2021 who earned the Seal of Biliteracy from the following schools:
• Decatur High School
• Federal Way High School
• TAF@Saghalie
• Internet Academy
• Thomas Jefferson High School
• Todd Beamer High School

The number of students that are biliterate is a key measure of progress in Goal 4 of our strategic plan, which supports mastery of all subjects and supports our scholars working toward biliteracy. Students who have earned the Seal of Biliteracy also exemplify our commitment to thriving in our multi-cultural and diverse society. We are proud of you, scholars!

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3 additional scholars received the Washington State Opportunity Scholarship!

We have great news to share: 3 more of our students were awarded the Washington State Opportunity Scholarship! This brings the total to 16 Federal Way Public Schools students awarded this scholarship.

The scholarship provides up to $22,500 in financial aid support and access to mentorship, professional development, and networking for students pursuing high-demand STEM and health care majors at colleges and universities in Washington state. This scholarship can be used to cover tuition, fees, housing, transportation, food, and more.
• From TAF@Saghalie: Edward Park
• From Todd Beamer High School: Preet Dhillon and Roop Dhillon

These students have persisted to graduation, and beyond. We’re so proud of them!

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Congratulations to FWPS for being named a National Board Accomplished District!

Federal Way Public Schools is one of 79 school districts from across the country named as a National Board Accomplished District! The district is recognized for having at least 20% of our teachers achieving National Board certification.

Known as the “gold standard,” this certification advances the quality of teaching and learning by maintaining high and rigorous standards for what accomplished teachers should know and be able to do. Most importantly, students in the classrooms with a Nation Board Certified Teacher have accelerated growth and higher levels of academic proficiency.

We are proud to support teachers becoming National Board certified and are committed to having the best possible teachers in front of our scholars!

Thank you to the 2020-21 Scholar Representatives to the Board!

In Federal Way Public Schools, incorporating student voice is central to informing the work of serving our 23,000 scholars.

Students from the Scholar Advisory to the Superintendent team presented a recommendation and outlined the application and selection process for the Scholar Representatives to the Board.

The purpose of scholar representatives’ participation at board meetings is to provide valuable input on school district operations.

At the beginning of the school year an interview team selected Gina Philipose and Gunnar Appleton who served as Scholar Representatives to the Board for the 2020-21 school year.

We would like to acknowledge and thank them for their service!

This effort is in support of district strategic plan Goal 2: thriving, confident, responsible individuals.

Thank you for your leadership!

 

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Congratulations to Claire Xu, recipient of the Federal Way Public Schools Board of Directors Student Voice Scholarship Award!

The Federal Way Public Schools Board of Directors Student Voice Scholarship Award celebrates the accomplishments of a Class of 2021 scholar from the Scholar Advisory to the Superintendent who has used their “voice” to make a difference in their school and community. This supports Thriving, Confident, Responsible Individuals, Goal 2 of the district strategic plan.

Congratulations to Claire Xu who has been selected to receive this $500 scholarship!

Students from the Scholar Advisory to the Superintendent team previously created a selection process and criteria to be used for the scholarship. The board then reviewed applications and selected the scholarship recipient.

Claire, we’re so proud of you!

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Congratulations to scholars who placed 1^st-3^rd in the Battle of the Books!

We’re proud of our third through fifth grade scholars who participated in the district-wide Battle of the Books! Scholars compete to answer questions about 12 books they collectively read as a team.

Today, we’re excited to honor the scholars who placed first through third.

Green Gables’ Team Epic Rusty Pigs Supreme placed first:

• Leo Von Ruden
• Hunter McQuistin
• Lena Slaecker
• Josiah Lee

Lake Dolloff’s Mythical Wolfpack tied for second place with Adelaide’s Bob's Bizarre Adventures:

• From Lake Dolloff, we’d like to recognize:
  • Mei Wang
  • Li Wang
  • Nu Nu Tsin
  • Angeli Luo
• From Adelaide, we’d like to recognize:
  • Isaac Winslow
  • Marillyn Snell-Greer
  • Shaylynn Wilcox

Meredith Hill’s Chapter Crusaders, Valhalla’s The Book Guys, and Sherwood Forest’s the Triple E Book Bandits all tied for third place:

• From Meredith Hill, we’d like to recognize:
  • Hark Woodard
  • Elliot Rucker
  • Jaylen Song
• From Valhalla, we’d like to recognize:
  • Nathan Selzler
  • Max Kung
  • Miles Kung
• From Sherwood Forest, we’d like to recognize:
  • Ellie Tomlinson
  • Eleora Harpin
  • Ericka Sun

We are proud of these scholars for striving towards Content-Area Competence: Mastery of All Subjects – goal 4 of our strategic plan!

 

Congratulations to our teachers who have become National Board Certified Teachers! 

Federal Way Public Schools now has a total of 7 teachers who received 2020 National Board Certification! Congratulations to these additional 5 teachers for this achievement:

• Sunna Yi, Brigadoon Elementary, Literacy: Reading-Language Arts/Early and Middle Childhood
• Allison Lever, Sacajawea Middle School, English Language Arts/Adolescence and Young Adulthood
• Amanda Phillips, Sequoyah Middle School, Mathematics/Early Adolescence
• Christine Ha, Federal Way High School, Science/Adolescence and Young Adulthood
• Jeremie Welch, Thomas Jefferson High School, Career and Technical Education/Early Adolescence through Young Adulthood

This certification is considered the “gold standard” in teacher certification and advances the quality of teaching and learning by maintaining high and rigorous standards.

Thank you for your dedication to continued professional development to positively impact our scholars’ bright futures!

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Thirteen students are awarded the Washington State Opportunity Scholarship!

We have great news to share: 13 of our students have been awarded the Washington State Opportunity Scholarship!

The scholarship provides up to $22,500 in financial aid support and access to mentorship, professional development, and networking for students pursuing high-demand STEM and health care majors at colleges and universities in Washington state. This scholarship can be used to cover tuition, fees, housing, transportation, food, and more.

From Decatur High School:

• Favour Ayemere
• Reyhana Hassan
• Kelly Nguyen
• Emma Wadleigh

From Federal Way High School:

• Yacine Bennour
• Jameyah Rogers
• Adetutu Adeshina
• Vince-Arvin Magno 

From Thomas Jefferson High School:

• De'Aija Reece
• Andrew Dibble
• Vannary Sou
• Jessica Estevez Rodriguez
• Maral Saikhanaa

These students have persisted to graduation, and beyond. We’re so proud of them!

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Federal Way High School's London Houston places at national wrestling events

Congratulations to Federal Way High School senior London Houston who competed in the United World of Wrestling women’s freestyle National Championships in Irving, Texas, May 7-9 and took second place in the junior division! She also made the national U-23 women’s freestyle wrestling team, and competed up a weight class at 136-pounds, taking third place. In March she won the 132-pound High School National Recruiting Showcase title.

London is currently captain of the Federal Way High School women’s wrestling team. In June, she is traveling with Team USA to Mexico City to compete at the Pan-American Championships.

London’s accomplishments demonstrate our scholar-athletes’ commitment to be active learners: engaged, empowered, critical thinkers — Goal 3 of our strategic plan. Way to go!